State Representative finally pays state $30,000 for stealing protester's sign

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican state Rep. Dale Kooyenga is finally repaying the state $30,000 for stealing a protester's sign after a newspaper questioned why he hadn't followed through on a promise to do so.

Donald Johnson filed a lawsuit last year accusing Kooyenga of stealing an anti-Republican sign Johnson had placed in the state Capitol. State attorneys in April agreed to pay Johnson $30,000 to settle the lawsuit. Kooyenga promised he would reimburse taxpayers.

State officials say Kooyenga paid Friday afternoon with a cashier's check.

Messages left at Kooyenga's Capitol office and on his cellphone inquiring about where he got the money weren't immediately returned.